Stat of the Day: Beatriz Haddad Maia is now on a 7-match winning streak against Top 20 players

Beatriz Haddad Maia’s breakthrough week in Toronto continued on Saturday night as she defeated Karolina Pliskova in a tight two-setter, 6-4, 7-6 (7), to move through to the biggest final of her career at the WTA 1000 hard-court event.

Her win over the No. 14–ranked Pliskova also continued a very impressive trend: Haddad Maia has now won her last seven matches in a row against Top 20 players.

HADDAD MAIA VS TOP 20 PLAYERS THIS YEAR: 7-1
l. to No. 15 Halep, 6-2, 6-0, in 2nd Rd of Australian Open
d. No. 3 Sakkari, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2, in 2nd Rd of Miami
d. No. 5 Sakkari, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, in QFs of Nottingham
d. No. 20 Halep, 6-3, 2-6, 6-4, in SFs of Birmingham
d. No. 13 Fernandez, 7-6 (4), 6-1, in 2nd Rd of Toronto
d. No. 1 Swiatek, 6-4, 3-6, 7-5, in 3rd Rd of Toronto
d. No. 12 Bencic, 2-6, 6-3, 6-3, in QFs of Toronto
d. No. 14 Pliskova, 6-4, 7-6 (7), in SFs of Toronto

And, perhaps fittingly, Haddad Maia is projected to break into the Top 20 for the first time herself on the new WTA rankings on Monday, rising from No. 24 to approximately No. 16 with a runner-up finish and to No. 14 should she go on to win the title.

Standing between her and the title is No. 15–ranked Simona Halep.